Blog

In the building materials sector, a strategic plan is only as strong as the team executing it at 8:00 a.m. on a Monday. This year brings mounting pressure: tightening margins, tariff volatility, and an aging skilled workforce — all converging at once. Success will depend not just on strategy, but on operational leadership that bridges…

2026 is shaping up to be a year of contradictions. While the broader “boom” years may be cooling, specific sectors are white-hot. At TZR, we’re looking at it as the demand isn’t disappearing—it’s shifting. For leaders in the building materials and home improvement space, success in 2026 won’t come from a rising tide lifting all…

We recently covered the importance of both flexibility and adaptability in Part 1 of our Best Practices Hiring Guide. Flexibility is about adjusting easily. Adaptability is about transforming effectively. While they may seem similar, flexibility and adaptability are different—and that’s why you need both when hiring. They’re also part of the reason we developed the…

We have the ‘lookbook’ on hiring trends in 2026. Spoiler: The one thing that never goes out of style is good character, hard work, innovation, and building a kind culture. Character Will Define the Next Generation of Leadership Tech advancements and AI are here to stay. As HR teams integrate tech to streamline the hiring…

We’re excited to launch a new initiative, the Talent Vault. “It’s a privilege to have been in this business for almost 30 years, and it’s thrilling to be able to leverage our team’s experience to continue evolving our process in innovative ways,” says Mark Fisher, TZR President. What is the Talent Vault? It’s a portal…

Choosing the right person to join your organization is more than a matter of filling a role—it is an investment in your company’s future. The impact of each hiring decision reaches across all facets of your business – influencing productivity, morale, and the overall success of the team. A single misstep in the process can…

As the seasons shift, so do the demands on homeowners to address the impact of weather on their properties, leading to an annual increase in requests for home maintenance and repair. The cyclical nature of this has a profound influence on the building materials sector, shaping not only the types of products in demand but…

There is a big difference between what makes a good worker versus a successful employee. Traits for a successful new hire Many of the traits that make a new hire successful and profitable are character-based – it’s not necessarily about working from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., it’s about honesty and integrity. It’s a bonus…

The second half of the calendar year is a pivotal time in the building materials industry. Businesses must anticipate trends and align efforts among the marketing, sales, product, and logistics teams to maximize outcomes while approaching year-end milestones. Shifting economic conditions—including fluctuating interest rates, changing tariffs issues, and ongoing supply chain challenges—will impact inventory planning…

As businesses navigate an increasingly complex and competitive global landscape, focusing solely on traditional sales strategies is no longer sufficient to drive sustainable growth. Channel marketing has emerged as a powerful driving force, moving far beyond its traditional role as a support function for your sales team. By strategically aligning with partners that make sense…